Perry Thomas

PERRY K. THOMAS, III

Perry King Thomas III, 66, died unexpectedly early Saturday at his west Tupelo residence.

Thomas, a former two-term member of the board of aldermen and later, a one-term member of the City Council, had lived in Tupelo all his life, and was deeply involved in many projects and undertakings in support of the city?s progress.

Thomas, the son of the late P.K. Thomas, Jr., MD, and Edith Ruff Thomas, was active in politics and public issues beginning as a student at Tupelo High School, and remained interested in Tupelo?s standing as a progressive community and in its elective politics.

He had served two terms on the city?s board of aldermen and, later, a term on the City Council. He had been a strong proponent of changing Tupelo?s form of government from board of aldermen to strong mayor-council.

He had also served as chairman of the citywide drainage task force to address long-term drainage issues in neighborhoods and commercial areas.

Thomas was a farmer. He earned a degree in animal science from Mississippi State University. Early in his adult life he farmed full time with Big Oaks Farm LLC, a family company. He was Big Oaks? president at the time of his death.

He also had worked for Warren Pest Control and for Whittington Office Supplies, from which he retired in 2012.

He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he had been a member since infancy. He had served as a deacon, Boy Scout leader and for 17 years as youth basketball coach. He had been a member of the church?s choirs since adolescence.

Thomas is survived by his mother, Edith Ruff Thomas; his wife, Judy Thomas;; his children,, Ginger and Barry Mark, Tupelo; P.K. and Mary Brook Thomas, Starkville; Roxie and Claude Clayton III, Tupelo. He also is survived by three grandchildren: Bennett Mark, Will Thomas and Henry Thomas.

He is survived by his siblings: Mike and Daintry Thomas, Tupelo; Kathryn Ann and Gary McNally, Brentwood, Tenn.; Glenn and Mary Thomas, Tupelo; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, 400 Jefferson St., with the Rev. Dr, Thomas P. Groome III and the Rev. Dr. Ron Richardson officiating. Interment will follow at Tupelo Memorial Park. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is scheduled 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today in McFadden Hall at First Presbyterian, and at 10 a.m. before the service Monday morning.

Pallbearers Barry Irons, Darrel Gates, Harry Collins, Chauncey Godwin, Jr., Robin Faucette, Loren Zimmerman and Markel Whittington.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society or to First Presbyterian Church, Box 1725, Tupelo, MS 38802.